Arkansas Stiffens Law On Smoking In Cars With Children

A new law signed by Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe concerning second hand smoke and children will go into effect on July 27.

The law expands on current Arkansas law, originally passed in 2006, allowing police to ticket anyone smoking in a vehicle with a child under the age of 6. The new law will now cover anyone under the age of 14, meaning a police officer can pull over and ticket a driver if they witness the offense.

Lawmakers believe the current law protected 34 percent of children, with the new law expected to protect 78 percent.

Local police departments are already gearing up to enforce the law.

"The concentration of secondhand smoke in vehicles can exceed that in homes and bars by 10 to 100 times due to the confined space. Secondhand smoke in vehicles is extremely detrimental to children?s developing respiratory, immune and nervous systems,? said Greenwood Police Captain Richie Wolford. "Officers of this department will vigorously enforce this new law beginning July 27 and there will be zero tolerance for violators. We encourage anyone who notices a violation of this law to please call the Greenwood Police Department and report it promptly."

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